Some sunshine and better temperatures certainly helped a local charity reach new heights.
The annual Golf 4 Cancer tournament raised around $11,200 — the most ever raised since the event started in 2012 — held June 9 at the Bashaw Golf and Country Club. A total of 21 four-women teams competed in the 18-hole fundraiser that provides funding to local individuals dealing with the sometimes devastating disease.
“There was a tournament held previously that took in money for cancer, but no one was totally sure just how much it was helping or where it exactly went,” explained one of the organizers, Marilyn Hoy.
“The golf club manager at the time wondered how this money could be kept locally and helped with the organizing of this new tournament. Since we started, the money raised has helped 59 local residents, be it with travel or other costs associated with treatment to other things just to make them feel better.”
Those that receive the funding are referred by people from the community, with the money distributed through the Bashaw and District Regional Health and Wellness Foundation.
Last year, the event raised about $8,900 and the hope of simply exceeding that number came courtesy of the generosity of the 84 participants. While the entry fees go a long way to that figure, it was the money generated from a raffle and dozens of silent auction items to go along with on-course challenges.
“We have women here from Bashaw, Ponoka, Camrose and as far away as Calgary,” Hoy stated.
“But the reason this continues to succeed is that it is such a tough tournament to get into. Players and teams come back year after year because they love it so much and have a lot of fun.”
The tournament is hosted the second Saturday of June every year and includes the opportunity to win a vehicle with a hole-in-one in addition a number of other prizes.